Connector fitting for railing components

ABSTRACT

A fitting for assembling a hollow railing to a generally cylindrical support structure includes a first end and a second end. The first end has a generally circular face forming a concavity that conforms to the curvature of the generally cylindrical support structure. The second end forms a socket adapted to receive an end of the railing to connect the railing with the support structure.

RELATED APPLICATION

Pursuant to 35 U.S.C. § 119, this application claims the benefit of U.S.Provisional Application No. 60/561,743 filed Apr. 13, 2004, the entiredisclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to railing and fencingassemblies, and specifically to a railing system having a connectorfitting for connecting a tubular rail to a post or other supportstructure having a rounded contour.

BACKGROUND

Extruded plastic pipe is frequently used to manufacture components fordeck railings, including posts and hand rails. Cylindrical plastic pipeprovides a strong, light-weight and weather-resistant material that iswell suited for outdoor railing installations. Many outdoor railingsystems include rails that are joined to cylindrical posts, columns orother curved support surfaces. Rounded surfaces present a difficultchallenge for mounting railings. For example, the round curvature of acylindrical post does not mate with a straight cut made at the end ofthe railing. Many installers address this problem by using a coping sawor similar tool to cut a circular profile or notch at the end of therailing.

Coping cuts are difficult to make, and require considerable time andlabor. Since the required length of railing is frequently measured atthe job site at the time of installation, the coping cut must be made atthe job site. Each coping cut must be done with a high degree ofprecision so that the end of the railing mates tightly against thecurved exterior of the support post. If the radius of curvature of thesupport structure is not known, the radius must be determined accuratelyso that the proper radius is used on the coping cut. Coping cuts mustalso be made at the correct locations on each railing. If the copingcuts are not made at the proper locations, the finished length of therailing may be too long or too short. Errors in coping cuts can not beconcealed, since the connection between the coped railings and posts areexposed on the finished railing. Therefore, coping cuts offer verylittle margin for error. Since a railing installation can includeseveral dozen rails, the step of coping each end of each rail can add asignificant amount of time to a project. Therefore, coping cuts are notvery practical or efficient for joining railings to rounded supportsurfaces.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The drawbacks of coping cuts are overcome to a large degree by thepresent invention, which includes a connector fitting that eliminatesthe need to make coping cuts or other labor-intensive alterations torailings when joining the railings to cylindrical posts and otherrounded surfaces. In a first aspect of the invention, a fitting forconnecting a railing to a generally cylindrical support element includesa saddle end and a socket end. The saddle end has a generally circularface forming a concavity that conforms to the curvature of thecylindrical support element. The socket end forms a hollow sectionsurrounded by an inner wall. A stud member projects out of the hollowsection in the. socket end to form a circumferential socket between thestud and the inner wall of the hollow section. The circumferentialsocket is adapted to receive an end of the railing over the stud toconnect the railing to the support element.

In a second aspect of the invention, a fitting for assembling a hollowrailing to a generally cylindrical support structure includes a firstend and a second end. The first end has a generally circular faceforming a concavity that conforms to the curvature of the generallycylindrical support structure. The second end forms a socket adapted toreceive an end of the railing to connect the railing with the supportstructure.

In a third aspect of the invention, a railing system comprises agenerally cylindrical fitting having a first end and a second end. Thefirst end of the fitting comprises a generally circular face forming acylindrical concavity. The second end of the fitting forms a cylindricalsocket. The cylindrical concavity has a longitudinal axis generallyperpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the fitting. The socket has alongitudinal axis generally parallel to the longitudinal axis of thefitting.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The foregoing summary and the following description will be betterunderstood when read in conjunction with the figures in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a post and railing structure inaccordance with the present invention, using connector fittings to joina pair of railings to a pair of posts.

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of a connector fitting used inthe post and railing structure of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is an elevation view of the connector fitting of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a first end view of the connector fitting of FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is a second end view of the connector fitting of FIG. 2.

FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view of components used to connect arailing to a post in accordance with the present invention, where theends of the post and one end of the railing are severed for clarity.

FIG. 7 is an elevation view of a second embodiment of a connectorfitting in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a third embodiment of a connectorfitting in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of the connector fitting in FIG. 8,taken through line 9-9 in FIG. 8.

FIG. 10 is a top view of a corner post configuration, where the post isconnected to a pair of railings by a pair of fittings in accordance withthe present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to the drawing figures in general, and to FIGS. 1-2specifically, a railing system 8 is shown in accordance with the presentinvention. The railing system 8 includes a pair of hollow rails 12 thatare supported between a first cylindrical post 14 and a secondcylindrical post 14′. Each rail 12 has a first end 13 supported on post14 and a second end 15 supported on post 14′. The rails 12 are joined toposts 14, 14′ by a plurality of connector fittings 10. The connectorfittings 10 form adapter couplings that conform to the rounded contourof posts 14, 14′, thereby eliminating the need to make coping cuts orother labor-intensive alterations to the ends of the rails 12.

The fittings may be used to connect railings to a variety of supportelements having rounded convex curvatures, including but not limited tocylindrical columns and newel posts. A variety of geometricalarrangements may be incorporated into the fitting to connect the fittingwith a rounded support surface. Referring now to FIGS. 2-5, one possibleconfiguration is shown on fitting 10. Fitting 10 has a generallycylindrical body that includes a socket end 20 that connects with theend of a rail. The fitting 10 also includes a saddle end 30 thatconnects to the convex curvature of a rounded support structure. Forpurposes of this description, the fitting 10 will be described as itwould be used to connect one of the railings 10 with the post 14 inFIG. 1. It will be understood that the fitting 10 may be used with otherstyles of railings and support structures, and the railing system of thepresent invention is not limited to the specific components and stylesillustrated in the drawing figures.

The saddle end 30 of the fitting 10 has a generally circular or U-shapedface 32, forming a rounded or cylindrical concavity 33 that conforms tothe convex curvature of the post 14. The longitudinal axis of theconcavity 33 is generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of thefitting. The cylindrical concavity 33 has a radius of curvature equal toor substantially equal to the radius of curvature of the post 14. Inthis configuration, the fitting 10 can be used to join the railing 12 tothe post 14 without coping or shaping the end of the railing. Thisarrangement allows railings to be quickly connected to posts or otherstructures in the field without the use of tools.

The fitting 10 may be molded as one piece formed of a variety ofmaterials. The material used in forming the fitting may depend on manyvariables, including but not limited to the desired properties of thefitting and the environmental conditions existing at the site ofinstallation. For example, the fitting 10 may be formed of polyvinylchloride, polyethylene or other thermoplastic material, which offerstrength and durability in outdoor environments. One-piece constructionreduces the cost of manufacturing the fitting. One-piece constructionalso minimizes the number of parts that must be handled and assembled inthe field, decreasing the time and labor required to connect railingcomponents. The socket end 20 of fitting 10 has a hollow section with aninner wall 21. A cylindrical hub or stud member 40 projects outwardlyfrom the hollow section and forms a circular end face 41. An annularrecess or socket 42 extends between the circumference of the stud 40 andthe inner cylinder wall 21.

The socket end 20 of the fitting 10 is adapted to telescopically receivethe end of a railing. The diameter of the inner cylinder wall 21 ispreferably equal to or substantially equal to the outer diameter of therailing 12. In addition, the width of the annular recess 42 ispreferably equal to or substantially equal to the wall thickness of therailing 12. If desired, the recess 42 may be sized to receive the end ofthe railing 12 in a friction fit. For example, the outer surface of therailing 12 may frictionally engage the inner cylinder wall 21, and theinner surface of the railing may frictionally engage the outercircumference of the stud member 40. The frictional engagement betweenthe fitting 10 and railing 12 allows the railing to be joined with thefitting without the use of adhesives, which add to the cost ofconstruction, require dry conditions and clean surfaces on which toapply the adhesives, and add to the number of accessories that must besupplied in the field. A frictional engagement between the fitting 10and railing 12 also allows the railing to be joined with the fittingwithout the use of set screws, bolts or other fasteners. The ability toavoid using any fasteners is desirable for individuals who want toeliminate or minimize the number of fasteners that are visible on theexterior of the railing assembly. Fasteners also increase the number ofparts that must be handled in the field, increase the time required toconnect fittings to railings, and require the use of additional handtools. The frictional connection between fittings and railings may beestablished by hand, requiring no use of hand tools.

Of course, the fitting 10 and railing 12 may be connected by other meansin lieu of, or in addition to, frictional engagement. For example, afriction fit connection may be reinforced with other connecting means,including but not limited to adhesives or fasteners. In FIG. 2, anoptional side port 25 extends through the side of the socket end 20. Theside port 25 is sized to receive a fastener, such as set screw 27. Theset screw 27 has threads 28 that engage the inner wall of the side port25, and an end portion 29. The set screw 27 may be rotated in the port25 until the end portion 29 advances through the wall of the socket andbears against the exterior of a railing inserted in the socket. Theengagement between the screw end 29 and the exterior of the railingprovides resistance to axial and rotational displacement of the railingend in the socket, in addition to the resistance offered by thefrictional engagement.

The socket end 20 and saddle end 30 provide several advantages duringassembly of the railing system. The circular face 32 of the saddle end30 is adapted to fit flush against the side of the post 14 in a tightjoint that creates a smooth and seamless transition between the post 14and the fitting 10. Since the saddle end 30 readily conforms to thecurvature of the post 14, the railing member 12 can be joined to thepost without any coping or other special alterations on the end of therailing. The railing member 12 is cut to a desired length andimmediately inserted into the socket 42. The fittings 10 may beconnected to posts during fabrication of the railing system and prior totaking the components to the job site. As a result, the railings may bejoined to posts in the field in fewer steps.

The socket end 20 extends over a portion of the railing member 12 in anoverlapping manner that covers the cut end of the railing. The overlapbetween the socket end 20 and railing end eliminates any concerns aboutthe appearance or straightness of the cut end, since the end will beconcealed inside the fitting 10. Since the railing end is concealed inthe socket end 20 of the fitting 10, the fitting decreases the level ofaccuracy required in measuring the desired length of a rail. That is,the overlap between the socket end 20 and railing member 12 allows forsome degree of imprecision when measuring and cutting the railing end.The depth of the socket is sufficient to extend over the end of a rail,even if the rail is inadvertently cut shorter than intended. The marginof error provided by the fitting 10 depends largely on the depth of thesocket, which can conceivably tolerate cutting errors of one inch ormore on a length or railing. This margin of error reduces the amount ofcareful preparation and measurement that must be devoted to eachrailing, thereby shortening the task of measuring and cutting railingmembers.

The saddle end 30 of the fitting 10 may be attached to the post 14 usinga variety of means, including but not limited to fasteners, couplingsand adhesives. Referring to FIGS. 2 and 6, the fitting 10 is joined tothe post 14 with an anchoring element 16. The fitting 10 has anelongated bore 18 that extends along the longitudinal axis of thefitting. The bore 18 extends between the saddle end 30 and the end face41 of the stud member 40, penetrating through the saddle end and the endface. The bore 18 is adapted to receive the anchoring element 16 tomount the fitting 10 onto the post 14. The anchoring element 16 has alength greater than the length of the bore 18, such that an end of theanchoring element projects outwardly from the arcuate face 32 of thesaddle end 30 when the anchor element 16 is fully inserted into thebore.

The fitting 10 is mounted to the side of the post 14 to form a junctionbetween the post and the railing 12. A post hole 15 is pre-drilled orpunched through the side of the post 14 at the location where the railis to be connected. The saddle end 30 of the fitting 10 engages the sideof the post 14 over the post hole 15, with the bore 18 aligned generallycoaxially with the post hole. The bore 18 and the post hole 15 receivethe anchoring element 16 to mount the fitting onto the post. In FIG. 6,the anchoring element 16 is a long threaded bolt. The bolt 16 isrotatable in the bore 18 of the fitting 10 to drive the bolt into thepost hole 15. The dimension of the post hole 15 is substantially equalto or slightly larger than the thread diameter on the bolt 16. As such,the threads of the bolt 16 engage the wall of the post hole 15. The bolt16 has a bolt head that abuts the end face 41 of the stud member 40 andbears against the stud member when the bolt is anchored into the post14. The engagement between the bolt threads and the post, combined withthe engagement between the bolt head and the end face 41 on stud member40, forms a tight connection between the fitting and the post thatresists deflection caused by axial and shear forces on the fitting.

The rounded concavity 33 at the saddle end 30 of the fitting 10 forms apair of rounded flanges or extensions 34. The flanges 34 wrap around theexterior of post 14 and overlap a portion of the post. It may bedesirable to limit the amount of area on the post that is overlapped bythe flanges 34, so that the fittings are less noticeable on the posts.The amount of overlap may be decreased by decreasing the size of theface 32. Referring to FIGS. 2, 3 and 5, the flanges 34 include acurvature or taper 35 that flares inwardly toward the longitudinal axisof the fitting 10. The inward taper 35 decreases the arc length of thecircular face 32, which would otherwise be longer if the saddle end hadno taper. Since the arc length of the circular face 32 is shorter, thesaddle end 30 extends around a smaller area on the post. The decreasedarea of overlap between the saddle end 30 and the post 14 makes thefitting less noticeable and provides a more subtle transition betweenthe railing and post.

A method for using connector fittings to connect a railing between twocylindrical posts will now be described in connection with FIG. 1.Connector fittings 10 are mounted to the posts 14,14′. If desired, theconnector fittings 10 may be mounted to posts 14,14′ prior to deliveringthe components to the job site. The connector fittings 10 may be joinedto the posts 14,14′ in a variety of ways. For example, each connectorfitting 10 may be mounted to the side of a post with an adhesive appliedon the curved face 32 on the saddle end 30. Once the adhesive is appliedto the curved face 32, the saddle end 30 is placed against the post withthe curved face mated with the curvature of the post. Force is appliedto the fitting 10 to press the curved face 32 against the curvature ofthe post. The fitting 10 is held in place while maintaining pressureagainst the fitting until the adhesive sets, forming a bond between thefitting and post.

Alternatively, or in addition to the adhesive, a threaded bolt 16 may beused to mount the connector fittings 10 to the posts 14, 14′ asillustrated in FIG. 6. A post hole 15 is pre-drilled or punched throughthe side of the post, at a section on the post where the fitting is tobe mounted. The post hole 15 may be drilled or punched prior todelivering the components to the job site, or at the job site. Thesaddle end 30 of the fitting 10 is placed over the post hole 15 with thecurved face 32 mated with the curvature of the post. The bore 18 thatextends through the longitudinal axis of the fitting 10 is aligned withthe post hole 15. The bolt 16 is inserted through the bore 18 and intothe post hole 15. If desired, the diameter of the bore 18 may be largerthan the thread diameter on the bolt 16 so that the bolt passes easilythrough the bore before reaching the post hole. As the end of the bolt16 reaches the post hole 15, torque is applied to the bolt to drive thebolt threads into the post hole and securely mount the fitting 10 to thepost 14.

Once the connector fittings 10 are mounted on the posts 14,14′ the postsmay be mounted on a deck surface or other foundation. Once post 14 ismounted on its foundation, the first end 13 of each railing 12 isaligned with one of the fittings 10 on the post. The railing end 13 ispositioned adjacent the socket end 20 of the fitting 10 and advancedfully into the circumferential socket 42. As the railing end 13 isadvanced into the socket 42, the inner wall of the socket and annularwall of stud member 40 may frictionally engage the exterior and interiorwalls of the railing member 12, providing a frictional connectionbetween the railing 12 and the fitting 10. As described above, thefrictional connection provides a cost effective and time-saving meansfor attaching the railing 12 to the fitting 10, and avoids the costs andburdens associated with handling adhesives or fasteners in the field. Ofcourse, the frictional connection may be reinforced with an adhesive orfasteners, if that is desired. The adhesive may be applied to surfaceson or around the stud member 40, socket 42 and the interior wall of therailing member, prior to inserting the railing member into the socket.Alternatively, or in addition to an adhesive, the friction connectionmay be reinforced with hardware, such as a set screw inserted throughthe side of the fitting to engage the exterior wall of the railing.

The above described process is completed for each railing member 12being connected to post 14. Once the first end 13 of each railing 12 issecured to the post 14, the second end 15 of the railing is prepared formounting to post 14′. Since the fittings 10 overlap the first and secondends 13, 15 of the railing member 12, the clearance space between thefittings in the final installation will be less than the finished lengthof the railing member. Therefore, the post 14′ is preferably mounted tothe deck in an arrangement that allows the post to be tilted oradjusted. For example, the post 14′ may be mounted with fasteners thatare not completely tightened to allow the post 14′ to be tilted ordisplaced away from post 14, thereby permitting the railing members 12to fit between the posts during installation. The second end 15 ofrailing 12 is maneuvered until the second end is aligned with one of thefittings 10 on post 14′. If necessary, the railing 12 is cut to a lengththat allows the second end of the railing to be inserted into the socketin the fitting 10.

It is not critical to make a clean or perfectly straight cut across theend of the railing 12, as stated earlier, since the fitting 10 willoverlap and conceal the end of the railing. In addition, it is notcritical to measure and cut the end of the railing 12 with a high degreeof accuracy. The finished length of the railing 12 only needs to be longenough to allow the railing to extend into the fitting on post 14′.Preferably, the railing 12 is cut to maximize the amount of overlapbetween the railing and the fitting 10. Once the end of the railing iscut, the post 14′ is tilted and maneuvered until the fitting 10 isaligned with cut end of the railing 12. The cut end of the railing isinserted into the fitting 10 and advanced until the rim of the socketcompletely overlaps and conceals the cut end of the railing. The post14′ is then adjusted to a vertical or near vertical position andanchored to the deck surface. The connection between the railing 12 andfitting 10 may be established by frictional engagement, adhesives,fasteners, or any combination that includes friction, adhesives orfasteners.

The foregoing description is not the only method for installing railingsin accordance with the present invention. The method of installation maybe influenced by many variables, including site conditions and the sizeof the railing system. In some cases, it may be possible to pre-assemblelarge sections of a post and railing system prior to installing thesections on a deck surface or other support structure. For example, therailings 12 in FIG. 1 may be connected between the posts 14, 14′ priorto installing the posts on the deck surface. In this method, theconnector fittings 10 are mounted on each of the posts 14, 14. Thefittings 10 are aligned with the ends of the railings 12, and advancedover the ends of the railings to connect the railings between the posts14, 14′. The post and railing segment is then lowered onto a decksurface and secured in place.

In FIG. 7, a second embodiment of a fitting in accordance with thepresent invention is shown and designated generally as 110. The fitting110 is a corner fitting configured to be attached to the exterior of apost adjacent to another corner fitting. Corner fittings permit tworailings to be connected in an adjacent arrangement at the same sectionof a post. For example, the corner fittings may be mounted on a verticalpost to mount two railings at the same height on the post, with therailings being separated by a horizontal angle having an apex at thepost. This arrangement permits railings to be quickly joined to singlepost. Corner fittings may be used at any location where two railingsegments intersect, such as the corner of a deck or the corner of astaircase landing.

The corner fitting 110 has a socket end 120 and a saddle end 130,similar to the fitting described in connection with FIG. 2. The saddleend 130 has a chamfered face 150 on one side, which is oriented at anangle toward the longitudinal axis of the fitting. The chamfered face150 is configured to abut a chamfered face on a second corner fitting toform a horizontal angle between adjacent railings. The sum of the anglesof orientation of the chamfered faces 150 is equal or substantiallyequal to the horizontal angle between the adjacent railings. Forexample, the angle of orientation of the chamfered face 150 on eachfitting may be one half of the desired horizontal angle which willseparate the adjacent railings. Where two railings are to be joined toone corner post to form a horizontal angle of ninety degrees, thechamfered face 150 on each corner fitting would be oriented at an angleof 45 degrees relative to the longitudinal axis of the fitting 110. Thecorner fitting 110 may be mounted to a post using the same componentsand methods described previously in connection with FIGS. 1-6. Once acorner fitting 110 is mounted to a corner post, a railing end may beinserted into the socket end 120 to secure the railing to the post. Thecorner fittings 110 permit adjacent railings to be quickly and easilyjoined to the outer perimeter of corner posts, without makinghigh-precision measurements and cuts on the ends of the railings.

Referring now to FIG. 10, a corner post arrangement includes two cornerfittings 310, 311 that are joined to a cylindrical corner post 314.Corner fitting 310 has a socket end 310 that telescopically receives theend of a first horizontal tubular railing 316, and corner fitting 311has a similar socket end 330 that telescopically receives the end of asecond horizontal tubular railing 317. Fittings 310, 311 each have arounded face 332 that mates with the rounded exterior of post 314. Achamfered edge 350 extends adjacent to the rounded face 332 on eachfitting. Each chamfered edge 350 is oriented at a 45-degree angle withrespect to the longitudinal axis of its respective fitting. The fittings310, 311 are attached to the post 314 in a symmetrical arrangement inwhich the chamfered edges 350 are mated together. In this arrangement,the longitudinal axis of fittings 310,311 are separated by an angle ofninety degrees, permitting the railings to be joined to the post andspaced apart by an angle of ninety degrees, or twice the angle oforientation of the chamfered edges 350. The corner fittings of thepresent invention may be molded with chamfered edges having a variety ofangles to permit different horizontal angles between adjacent railings.For example, the corner fittings may manufactured with chamfered edgeshaving a 60 degree orientation to permit adjacent railings to be spacedapart by a horizontal angle of 120 degrees.

Referring now to FIGS. 8 and 9, a third embodiment of a fitting inaccordance with the present invention is shown and designated generallyas 210. The fitting 210 is an adjustable pivot fitting for use on stairrailings or other structures where a railing is mounted at a verticalangle on the side of a post. The fitting 210 has a first component 211with a saddle end 230, similar to the saddle end on the embodimentsdescribed above. The fitting 210 also has a second component 213 with asocket end 220. The first and second components 211, 213 are pivotallyconnected to permit the railing to be mounted to the post andsubsequently adjusted to a desired angle. The first and secondcomponents 211, 213 may be joined by a variety of pivoting connections,such as a pin connection or a bolt. Referring to FIG. 9, the componentsare pivotally connected by a hex screw 215. The hex screw 215 cooperateswith a nut 216 to loosen or tighten the engagement between the first andsecond components 211, 213. The hex screw 215 is loosened to permit theconnection to pivot, and tightened to secure the components at a fixedorientation relative to one another.

The first component 211 has a pivot end 212 that mates with a pivot end214 on the second component 213. The pivot ends 212, 214 are cut throughtheir center sections, forming a pair of complementary halves that matewith one another. The first component 211 has a stepped face 217 havingrounded contours, and the second component 213 has a stepped face 218having rounded contours that conform to the rounded contours on steppedface 217. The stepped faces 217, 218 mate with one another to permitpivoting of the first component 211 relative to the second component213, and vice versa, when the pivot ends are connected. If desired, thefirst and second components 211, 213 may be joined so that the steppedfaces 217, 218 slidably engage one another. Alternatively, the first andsecond components 211, 213 may be separated by a small gap or clearancespace to minimize the amount of friction created between the componentswhen the components are pivoted relative to one another. In eitherarrangement, the first component 211 may be pivoted in two directionsrelative to the second component 213, as illustrated by the arrows inFIG. 5. The dashed arrow and dashed lines represent one possibleposition in which the first component 211 can be pivoted.

A pivot hole 221 extends through the first component 211, and a pivothole 222 extends through the second component 213. The pivot holes 221,222 align with one another when the pivot ends are fitted together,forming a continuous slot through the first and second components 211,213. The slot has an inner diameter slightly larger than the diameter ofthe body of the hex screw 215, permitting the slot to receive the hexscrew. If desired, the hex screw 215 and nut 216 may be installed flushwith the exterior of the fitting components 211, 213 to help conceal thehex screw and nut. For example, the first component 211 may include ashallow recess 223 that surrounds the head of the screw 215 when the hexscrew is inserted through the slot. Similarly, the second component 213may include a shallow recess 224 that surrounds the nut 216. In thisarrangement, the hex screw 215 and nut 216 are concealed below theexterior surface of the fitting 210 so that the hex screw and nut do notdetract from the appearance of the fitting. The recesses 223, 224 alsoprotect the head of the hex screw 215 and nut 216 from excessiveexposure to moisture, dust and other potentially harmful elements.

The terms and expressions which have been employed are used as terms ofdescription and not of limitation. There is no intention in the use ofsuch terms and expressions of excluding any equivalents of the featuresshown and described or portions thereof. It is recognized, therefore,that various modifications are possible within the scope and spirit ofthe invention. Accordingly, the invention incorporates variations thatfall within the scope of the following claims.

1. A fitting for connecting a railing to a generally cylindrical supportelement, said fitting comprising a one-piece cylindrical body having asaddle end and a socket end, said saddle end having a generally circularface forming a concavity that conforms to the curvature of thecylindrical support element, and said socket end forming a hollowsection surrounded by an inner wall, said one-piece body furthercomprising a stud member projecting out of the hollow section in thesocket end to form a circumferential socket between said stud and theinner wall of the hollow section, said socket being adapted to receivean end of the railing over the stud to assemble the railing to thesupport element.
 2. The fitting of claim 1 comprising an anchoringelement and an elongated bore that extends along the longitudinal axisof the fitting, said anchoring element extending through said elongatedbore.
 3. The fitting of claim 1, wherein the one-piece cylindrical bodycomprises a fastener and a port extending through the one-piece bodygenerally perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis of the fitting, saidfastener extending through said port and into said socket.
 4. Thefitting of claim 1, wherein the saddle end comprises a chamfered edgeadjacent to said generally circular face, said chamfered edge configuredto mate flush with an adjacent fitting on the support element.
 5. Thefitting of claim 1 comprising a pair of flanges extending on oppositesides of the concavity.
 6. The fitting of claim 5, wherein the flangesare tapered inwardly toward the longitudinal axis of the fitting.
 7. Afitting for assembling a hollow railing to a generally cylindricalsupport structure, said fitting comprising a first end and a second end,said first end having a generally circular face forming a concavity thatconforms to the curvature of the generally cylindrical support structurefor mounting the fitting flush against said support structure, saidsecond end forming a socket adapted to receive an end of the railing toconnect the railing with the support structure.
 8. The fitting of claim7 comprising an anchoring element and an elongated bore that extendsalong the longitudinal axis of the fitting, said anchoring elementextending through said elongated bore.
 9. The fitting of claim 7comprising a cylindrical stud member projecting out of said second end,said stud member configured for insertion into the interior of saidhollow railing to connect the railing to the fitting.
 10. The fitting ofclaim 7 wherein the fitting consists of a one-piece body.
 11. Thefitting of claim 7 wherein the fitting is formed of polyvinylchloride orpolyethylene.
 12. The fitting of claim 7 comprising a first componentand a second component connected with said first component by a pivotjoint, said generally circular face extending from the first componentand said socket extending within the second component, said firstcomponent being configured for attachment to the cylindrical supportelement, and said second component being configured for attachment tosaid railing to join said railing to said support structure, said pivotjoint being adjustable to change the orientation of the railing relativeto the support structure.
 13. A railing system comprising a generallycylindrical fitting having a first end and a second end, said first endcomprising a generally circular face forming a cylindrical concavity,and said second end forming a cylindrical socket, said cylindricalconcavity having a longitudinal axis generally perpendicular to thelongitudinal axis of the fitting, and said socket having a longitudinalaxis generally parallel to the longitudinal axis of the fitting.
 14. Therailing system of claim 13 comprising a cylindrical support structurehaving a rounded convex curvature partially extending within theconcavity of the fitting in a flush engagement.
 15. The railing systemof claim 14 wherein the cylindrical support structure comprises acylindrical column or a cylindrical post.
 16. The railing system ofclaim 13 comprising a hollow railing member having an open end, saidsocket telescopically receiving the open end of said railing member. 17.The railing system of claim 16 wherein the end of said railing issecured in said socket without fasteners or adhesives.
 18. The railingsystem of claim 16 comprising a generally cylindrical stud memberprojecting from the interior of the socket, said stud member extendingwithin the open end of the railing.